Background:

Since 1981, only the heading Washington (D.C.) has been valid for use as a subject heading, not District of Columbia. With some exceptions and accommodations to previous practice, this principle applies to classification as well.

Procedures:

1. In the absence of any conflicting provisions printed in the classification schedules, treat Washington, D.C. as a city , not as a state.

image\POINT_BL.gif If individual states and cities are printed in the schedule, establish Washington, D.C. alphabetically in the list of cities using the caption Washington (D.C.).

If local breakdown goes only to the state level and individual states are printed in the schedule, establish Washington, D.C. in the list of states, using the caption Washington (D.C.) and making a see reference from District of Columbia.

image\POINT_BL.gif If individual states and cities are not printed in the schedule, class Washington in the cities (or "local") number, if the breakdown goes to that level. If local breakdown goes only to the state level, class Washington in the number for states. Use the Cutter .Wxxx even if works cataloged under AACR1 or earlier rules were Cuttered .Dxxx. Example:

2. Conflicting provisions in the classification schedules:

If there are provisions that conflict with those given in sec. 1 printed in a schedule, follow the printed provisions rather than the guidelines in sec. 1. Where District of Columbia has been used as the caption, make a double caption by adding Washington (D.C.). Also make a see reference from that term in its alphabetical position.

See also:

Special Topics, Categories of Material, Etc.